Clinical services and Homecare Pharmacist (with EDC)

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated enthusiastic band 7 clinical pharmacist to specialise in the Trust’s Pharmacy Homecare Service and contribute to service developments within designated disease groups. The post is split equally between the Pharmacy Homecare Service and Clinical Services team. Working with our Principal Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation, you will help shape and deliver the NHS 10-year plan of shifting care from hospital to community. The post requires good prioritisation and organisational skills to manage both aspects of the role effectively. Initially, the postholder will work on the inpatient wards while completing clinical competencies. They will then provide 0.5 WTE support for the management and development of Homecare Services and 0.5 WTE clinical pharmacy support, including inpatient ward cover and screening Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy prescriptions. Our pharmacists work closely with multidisciplinary teams, with many practising as non-medical prescribers in outpatient clinics. We are committed to expanding these opportunities and support professional development through postgraduate study, research, secondments and collaborative projects with research partners and the University of Manchester. You will join a friendly, supportive and expanding team, helping to develop innovative services for cancer patients. If you are enthusiastic, proactive and committed to delivering high-quality patient care, we would like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

To manage and develop homecare medicines optimisation services, alongside the Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist – Homecare and Medicines Value, by providing a specialist pharmacist service to the homecare team which includes the Christie at Home team and Outsourced homecare.

To manage services for the homecare specialist area through liaison with external homecare providers.

To deputise for the Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist – Homecare and Medicines Value as required.

To provide a clinical pharmacy service to inpatient wards as allocated.

To provide support to the dispensary, aseptic, satellite units and peripheral Christie@sites if required

To qualify as an independent prescriber (if qualification not already achieved) and work as an independent prescriber within a designated disease group working alongside the relevant MDT team.

To provide advice on medicine related issues and clinical trials to healthcare professionals.

To participate in weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and additional out of hours and emergency duty commitment (EDC) duties as required to meet the needs of the service.

Although this post is based at The Christie Hospital main site, postholders may be required to work at any location across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network. The Trust has a flexible working policy and, subject to service commitments, it may also be possible to support an element of working from home.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Homecare duties as follows:
• Co-ordinates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to implement new homecare services. Works with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to review existing and develop new homecare service specifications
• Works with Clinical Pharmacy Team Leaders, Lead Pharmacists, Outpatient Dispensary Managers, and other Pharmacy staff to identify, plan, and develop new opportunities for homecare services
• Co-ordinates the service review meetings for homecare medicines optimisation working closely with pharmaceutical companies, homecare companies, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, other healthcare staff, and patients
• Ensures compliance with current homecare medicines optimisation guidance.
• Deputises for the Senior Homecare Pharmacist at the National Medicines Homecare Committee and Regional homecare procurement meetings as appropriate
• Support the development and review of homecare scheme SLAs, protocols, treatment guidelines, service specifications, SOPs, prescription forms and patient information both within the clinical pharmacy service, Christie@Home team and other homecare external providers.
• Identify areas for audit which contribute to improving patient care, safety and experience in relation to homecare medicines use and provision.
• Maintain support for the Lead Procurement and Homecare Technician in relation to the homecare services
• Supports the management of homecare related incidents in conjunction with the homecare companies and C@H team
• To develop and implement procedures for clinical screening of homecare prescriptions
• To provide training for specialist pharmacists in the clinical screening of prescriptions for medicines supplied via Homecare
• Deputises for the Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist – Homecare and Medicines Value 2. Clinical duties as follows:
• To provide a clinical service to inpatient wards as allocated by the clinical pharmacy lead pharmacist.
• To qualify (or if already qualified, work as) as an Independent Prescriber and prescribe to appropriate patients in agreement with relevant consultants
• To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients’ drug therapy with due consideration to risk/benefit issues.
• Supporting the provision of clinical pharmacy services within the dispensaries. Responsible for the clinical screening/review of prescriptions, both in-patients and outpatients, and to accurately check and supply medicines to patients, including clinical trials in accordance with all departmental, Trust and national standards, procedures, and policies.
• Delivering a clinical pharmacy service to designated patient groups, promoting best practice for all areas of pharmaceutical care in accordance with all local, Trust and national guidelines. To use specialist knowledge to identify and resolve complex pharmaceutical issues, taking into consideration other co-morbidity factors associated with the patient and liaise with medical and nursing staff.
• Developing specialist knowledge and skills relating to oncology practice including Good Clinical Practice in clinical trials if required.
• Safe and effective screening / review of prescriptions for chemotherapy regimens, clinical trials and treatment strategies in use at the Christie including full awareness of the intrathecal chemotherapy policy.
• Following local, Trust and National guidelines for safe medicines practice.
• To promote and maintain cost-effective prescribing through involvement in the development, implementation and review of evidence-based guidelines and protocols with fellow healthcare professionals, under the management of the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services, to establish best practice for the area of clinical responsibility.
• Service developments within other disease groups
• To participate in service development and implementation with regards to other disease group initiatives.
• To work in collaboration with and support disease group lead pharmacists with service evaluation, project management and implementation of new initiatives / scheme.
• To contribute to projects to integrate GM cancers services across the Christie@sites.
• To develop time management skills to ensure appropriate prioritisation of project implementation and workload in all areas of work.
• Participate in clinical activities e.g. multidisciplinary ward rounds, out-patient clinics and deputise as needed e.g. clinical and committee meetings.
• Medicines advice:
• To provide evidence-based medicine advice where appropriate to ensure safe, effective, economical and timely use of medicines.
• To provide advice on the storage, administration and therapeutic use of medicines to patients, medical and nursing staff and other healthcare colleagues.
• Provides medicines optimisation support and advice in relation to homecare and medicines value
• Other duties:
• To participate in Clinical Audit or practice research as required.
• To maintain, lead (as appropriate) and contribute to the regular review and development of efficient pharmacy services, namely dispensary, satellite pharmacy within the Trust and at C@sites, clinical, aseptic & clinical trial services.
• To support medicines value by monitoring and evaluating medicine usage and to encourage adherence to the hospital formulary. The post holder will be required to participate in formulary management, the financial monitoring of drug budgets to designated patient groups, and protocol and guideline review.
• To report on new initiatives and/or developments within designated patient groups to the Director of Pharmacy and the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services and where necessary discuss the impact on pharmacy services and the action to be taken. 6. Governance/risk:
• To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust’s Clinical & Research Governance agenda and to implement agreed clinical & research governance initiatives.
• To participate in departmental, Trust and National risk management schemes such as error reporting systems and intervention monitoring.
• To identify and manage risks in relation to medicine use according to local policy and protocols.
• To demonstrate that the Trust is compliant with Hackett and RPS recommendations in relation to homecare.

7. General:

• To attend departmental pharmacy meetings and any other meetings relevant to their role.
• To provide the clinical pharmacy service to additional wards in the absence of colleagues.
• To provide pharmacist cover at Christie@sites as required
• To provide clinical and professional supervision of foundation year trainee pharmacists, technicians and students within the pharmacy department and in clinical areas of the Trust. To participate in the training of other healthcare professionals including nursing and medical staff.
• Ensure all activities comply with departmental and trust health and safety, fire, security policies and COSHH regulations. To report any issues at the workplace which may put health and safety at risk.
• To participate in Continuing Professional Development ensuring relevant knowledge and skills are up to date, meeting the professional requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council. To participate in mandatory training in line with the trust and departmental requirements.
• To participate in all department rotas, Saturday service and Bank Holiday working and on-call rotas as requested
• To behave in a manner at all times that is in accordance with the professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Undertake all other related duties which may be required in accordance with the changing needs and practices of the department and organisation.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.